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| Flint Water Deal May Help Avert Government Shutdown | Flint Water Deal May Help Avert Government Shutdown |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — House leaders have struck a deal on aid for the lead-tainted water system in Flint, Mich., potentially clearing a major hurdle as Congress tries to avert a government shutdown just days before the Friday deadline. | WASHINGTON — House leaders have struck a deal on aid for the lead-tainted water system in Flint, Mich., potentially clearing a major hurdle as Congress tries to avert a government shutdown just days before the Friday deadline. |
| The agreement, released late Tuesday night, would authorize $170 million in spending to communities where the president has declared a state of emergency due to contaminants like lead. | The agreement, released late Tuesday night, would authorize $170 million in spending to communities where the president has declared a state of emergency due to contaminants like lead. |
| The money would be included in an amendment to legislation to fund water infrastructure projects, which the House is expected to pass Wednesday. A version of that bill, which approved more than $200 million for Flint, passed the Senate earlier this month. | The money would be included in an amendment to legislation to fund water infrastructure projects, which the House is expected to pass Wednesday. A version of that bill, which approved more than $200 million for Flint, passed the Senate earlier this month. |
| Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin said Wednesday that the legislation, the Water Resources Development Act, was the appropriate place to address the crisis in Flint. In an appearance at the Economic Club of Washington, he said the agreement should clear the way for a stopgap spending bill, and played down concerns that much of the government would shut down on Saturday. | Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin said Wednesday that the legislation, the Water Resources Development Act, was the appropriate place to address the crisis in Flint. In an appearance at the Economic Club of Washington, he said the agreement should clear the way for a stopgap spending bill, and played down concerns that much of the government would shut down on Saturday. |
| “We should be able to move this through, I believe, by Friday,” Mr. Ryan said. | “We should be able to move this through, I believe, by Friday,” Mr. Ryan said. |
| Aid for the city of about 100,000 people northwest of Detroit became the main point of contention in recent days in discussions over a short-term spending agreement to fund the federal government through Dec. 9, a separate negotiation that would prevent a shutdown. | Aid for the city of about 100,000 people northwest of Detroit became the main point of contention in recent days in discussions over a short-term spending agreement to fund the federal government through Dec. 9, a separate negotiation that would prevent a shutdown. |
| Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said Wednesday that he felt “very comfortable” with reassurances from Republicans that the House deal would result in aid for Flint. He signaled that Democrats would withdraw their objections to the stopgap spending bill and allow it to move forward, with a vote coming on the measure as soon as Wednesday afternoon. | Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said Wednesday that he felt “very comfortable” with reassurances from Republicans that the House deal would result in aid for Flint. He signaled that Democrats would withdraw their objections to the stopgap spending bill and allow it to move forward, with a vote coming on the measure as soon as Wednesday afternoon. |
| However, the House deal does not guarantee that Congress will beat the clock and avert a shutdown. Should the Senate approve the spending agreement, there are still several unresolved details on the House side, including provisions eliminated in Senate negotiations that would block a government plan to end its oversight of the internet’s master directory of website addresses and another regarding the number of hours truckers can log. | However, the House deal does not guarantee that Congress will beat the clock and avert a shutdown. Should the Senate approve the spending agreement, there are still several unresolved details on the House side, including provisions eliminated in Senate negotiations that would block a government plan to end its oversight of the internet’s master directory of website addresses and another regarding the number of hours truckers can log. |
| And many conservative House members — part of a faction known as the House Freedom Caucus that has caused numerous headaches over government spending for Mr. Ryan — have indicated they could not support the bill because of the spending levels it proposes and the fact that it does not postpone the funding debate until next year, when the next Congress opens its session. | And many conservative House members — part of a faction known as the House Freedom Caucus that has caused numerous headaches over government spending for Mr. Ryan — have indicated they could not support the bill because of the spending levels it proposes and the fact that it does not postpone the funding debate until next year, when the next Congress opens its session. |
| The earliest the House could vote on a spending agreement is Friday, just hours before the deadline. | The earliest the House could vote on a spending agreement is Friday, just hours before the deadline. |
| Senate Democrats defeated the latest attempt to move forward on a spending bill Tuesday afternoon, objecting largely to the fact that the legislation included funding for flood-ravaged communities in Louisiana but no money for Flint. | Senate Democrats defeated the latest attempt to move forward on a spending bill Tuesday afternoon, objecting largely to the fact that the legislation included funding for flood-ravaged communities in Louisiana but no money for Flint. |
| Before announcing her deal with Mr. Ryan, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, said Tuesday that Democrats wanted an immediate response to the water-contamination crisis in Flint before lawmakers head home to campaign. | Before announcing her deal with Mr. Ryan, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, said Tuesday that Democrats wanted an immediate response to the water-contamination crisis in Flint before lawmakers head home to campaign. |
| “We have to get Flint done, the sooner, the better,” Ms. Pelosi said, adding later, in reference to the time after the election, “What’s the guarantee in the lame duck?” | “We have to get Flint done, the sooner, the better,” Ms. Pelosi said, adding later, in reference to the time after the election, “What’s the guarantee in the lame duck?” |
| Senate Republicans said Congress would ensure that money for Flint was part of the water projects bill, with leaders promising to include it when they meet with House leaders to resolve the differences between the Senate and House versions of that bill. That conference meeting is not expected to happen until lawmakers return after the election. | Senate Republicans said Congress would ensure that money for Flint was part of the water projects bill, with leaders promising to include it when they meet with House leaders to resolve the differences between the Senate and House versions of that bill. That conference meeting is not expected to happen until lawmakers return after the election. |